Bulls rally past Columbus

Cole Figueroa drove in two runs and J.D. Martin allowed one earned run over six innings as the Durham Bulls rallied past Columbus 4-2 in International League baseball on Saturday night.

Martin, an International League all-star, improved his record to 13-4 with help from his offense and the stout Durham bullpen.

Columbus took an early 2-0 lead with single runs in the first and second innings.

The Clippers scored their first run with help from Martin’s throwing error.

Ezequiel Carrera and Chun-Hsiu Chen each singled to get the Clippers rally going. With two outs and runners at first and third, Martin fielded Juan Diaz’s ground ball but his errant throw to first allowed Diaz to reach and Carrera to score.

In the second inning, Ryan Rohlinger hit a lead off double and moved to third on a Luis Hernandez single. Rohlinger scored on a Roberto Perez sacrifice fly for a 2-0 Columbus lead.

The Bulls took advantage of a Columbus error to tie the score in the fourth inning.

Vince Belnome reached on Hernandez’s fielding error to start the inning. Clippers starting pitcher Trevor Bauer retired the next two batters before Chris Gimenez singled and Kevin Kiermaier walked to load the bases.

Figueroa drove a single up the middle, driving in two runs to tie the game at 2-all.

Another two-out RBI hit in the fifth inning put Durham ahead for good.

Ryan Roberts doubled with one and, after Belnome was retired on a fly ball to right field, Jason Bourgeois singled to center driving in Roberts for a 3-2 Durham lead.

Columbus had chance to tie the game in the fifth inning when Carrera reached on a lead-off double. Martin issued a two-out walk to Jeremy Hermedia but got Diaz on a fly ball to right field to end the threat.

Martin left after six innings, having scattered six hits while issuing one walk and striking out four.

The Bulls added an insurance run in the eighth inning when Mike Fontenot doubled in Bourgeois for a 4-2 Durham lead.

That was plenty for the Bulls bullpen. Josh Lueke pitched two scoreless innings, allowing two hits. Kirby Yates pitched a perfect ninth inning, striking out one, to pick up his 13th save.